Dear First-day Self,

Over the course of the next year, you are going to grow massively as a professional. As a Full-Time MBA student, you’re going to be presented with countless opportunities to develop your skills. The programme will help you grow far beyond the academic side of things, becoming more open-minded and improve your public speaking skills. Presenting to a room of up to 70 people is not something that happens every day, but over time, your confidence will grow.

Say yes to new opportunities. Even if it may feel intimidating, it’s a great opportunity to get stuck into things that may be outside of your comfort zone and that is a good place to be.

Take every opportunity to get involved. The diversity of professionals across all the MBA programmes is incredible, and those interactions help to build lifelong connections.

And make the most of the career support available to you. Your dedicated Career Consultant will offer invaluable guidance and that will help to propel your career forward, helping you navigate a career change from tech to management consulting.

Imperial Business School is going to open doors for you. The integration of business and technology, along with access to high-calibre professors and an international cohort creates an environment that is going to elevate your thinking and help you grow as a professional.

Dear First-day Self,

You’re about to embark on a learning journey filled with memorable moments. One key piece of advice I’d give to you is to believe in yourself. You have the capability to do all the things you put your mind to, so have confidence in yourself and in this journey you’re about to begin. Before you know it, you’ll be graduating and looking back with pride on all that you’ve achieved.

One of the biggest highlights will be the incredible bond you form with your Global Online MBA cohort. Even though the programme is mostly online, you’ll support each other through some key life moments – marriages, job changes and even some of our children’s graduations. Those connections will go far beyond coursework. So, make the effort to build relationships, they will become one of the most enriching parts of your experience.

You’ll also grow in ways you might not expect. Through different modules and experiences, Imperial Business School will help you to grow both professionally and personally. Take advantage of these opportunities as they’ll shape not just your career, but who you are as a business leader.

Don’t overlook the career support being offered. The Careers team and faculty are incredibly supportive, offering personalised guidance and job recommendations. Make full use of the portal that connects students with employers as it’ll give you a real head start in the job market.

Beyond academics, the global nature of this experience is going to shape you in so many ways. Learning from people around the world will give you deeper emotional intelligence, empathy and a real appreciation for diversity.

If you’re looking for diversity, brilliant minds, access to top faculty and a truly global experience, Imperial is the best place to be. It's an experience you'll never forget.

Dear First-day Self,

For me, the three main reasons why Imperial Business School is such a great place to study are because of the people, the faculty and the transformational experience that awaits you.

The people you’re surrounded by are diverse and have so many different perspectives. Learn from them and take advantage of the Imperial community; build relationships that will help you to be the best that you can be as a person.

The faculty are very experienced in terms of their backgrounds, capabilities and the support they provide. They’ll help you to grow as a leader as well as transform the way you approach business, the people you work with and the way that you look at life holistically. And if you utilise the career support available, you’ll feel more confident in the career choices you’re making, from job searches all the way through to negotiations.

The Imperial experience is wonderful. The blend of science, technology and business is so unique – it's one of the few places where you can get this intersection and the programme is designed to help you engage with these diverse areas. You’ll have the chance to learn how businesses are tackling challenges on a global scale and gain some vital insights from trips like the Global Experience Week to Kenya.

Ultimately, Imperial will help you to understand that you are the one in control of your outcomes and your choices as a leader, and it will provide you with the skills needed to succeed.

Dear First-day Self,

Having studied both my undergraduate and MBA at Imperial, graduating marks a significant milestone.

Thinking back over my time on the programme, my advice to you is to keep pushing yourself forward. As a Weekend MBA student, you’ll be juggling study with work and a family, which can feel like a lot sometimes. Just keep going. The reward at the end is truly worth it.

Imperial Business School is going to help you in so many ways. You’ll develop so many new skills that you can take forward in your career, have the chance to network with people from across the world and be presented with opportunities that will push you outside of your comfort zone – something that will encourage you to grow.

The Global Experience Week will be particularly impactful. The things you learn on the company visits and exposure to different business culture, outside of the UK will be invaluable and open your eyes.

It’s also a chance to really define what you want to do with your career and pursue it with the guidance of the dedicated Careers team. Deciding to change careers during your studies will be a big decision, but the support you receive will be incredible. They really will help you go in the direction that’s right for you.